I just switched over to the Milesi HGA 2k from GF precats and it's a much thicker clear coat than I've ever sprayed before. Couldn't get much atomization reducing 5% with a 2.0 nozzle on my hvlp turbine. I ordered the 2.5 nozzle to see if that works better, but I'm also contemplating another pump. I've been able to get by with my graco hvlp for the last 15 years because I'm a small scale furniture company, but I'm wondering if it's time to upgrade to another pump that's better suited to spray the thicker euro 2K's and larger dining table surfaces.

I saw threads that recommended the Merkur ES 15:1 and the Titan 655 among many other options (Kremlin, Kremlin, Kremlin, Kremlin, hahaha). Because I'm low volume the smaller pumps with a hopper are appealing. Is the Merkur ES 15:1 a good pump for my application? Can a 15:1 handle the waterborne euro 2K's?

I know exactly what you mean!
I have been using Renner paint and it is thicker than your norm solvent based coating
I wouldn't bother with turbines
I have the Merkur 15:1 pump and I had a hard time with their primer but the top coat was just fine
I would look into airless!
That's right,airless with Reduced Pressure Fine Finish tip
Lots of people are going that route
Graco 395
Titan 440
Tritech T4
Those are the popular ones
If you want to go AAA
The Merkur is mentioned a lot
Personally I don't like it
I have a CAT peak 14:1 and love it
But keep in mind that is going to cost you
Plus a compressor !

That's funny, I remember seeing a couple of your threads on some of the troubles you've had with the merkur 15:1! True, I'd also have to upgrade to a bigger compressor and if it's iffy on spraying these coatings that's not a gamble I want to take at this price point.

The airless are appealing if I know they're capable of spraying these finishes because cost of entry is much lower and I can get rolling right away. I'll be trying to grow my business as much as possible this year so it's hard to know if it's worth the jump to an AAA at this point, but I'm using this Milesi 2k for all my tables so I've gotta get something that can lay it down nice and quick.

Yep I did have an issue with the pump
Took it back and they kept it for about 5 months!
There was something wrong with fluid pressure
They never really figured it out so Graco sent a replacement unit
So now it's working I guess but I just don't like it
It just doesn't run smooth like my CAT
Then again maybe this one is also defective?
I myself looking to get an airless pump to spray the Renner primer
I'm using the CAT to spray the top coat which is thin enough

5 months?! That's obnoxious. I've dealt with plenty of new machine problems that get dragged out for months or ignored and all I can do is shake my head at that business model. I have a list of companies I won't do business with again...unfortunately that list is getting longer than ones I'll consider buying from lol.

I'm in a time crunch to get pieces out so I went ahead and ordered a Tritech T4 that should arrive next week. Just need to keep moving and didn't want to deal with upgrading to aaa AND larger compressor. Hopefully this airless works out, I read a few others that recommended them for the euro coatings as well.

Please let us know how it works out!
Btw What tip did you get ?

The dealer I got the pump from wasn't sure about Milesi, but recommended a 308 and 310 for centurion 2k which they stock. That's not a euro 2K, I'll test it out with those and see how it sprays. They threw in an extra 408 for the larger tables.

first off, let me inquire about your current graco pump, what ratio is it and is it working well. most all of my w/bornes are thixotropic meaning at rest they are very thick, think about mayonaise or ketchup, BUT under movement like a pump, they lose or have what they call false viscosity. anything around 10-1 with a wborne tip will work but if you are using say a .13, you will need a .15 as there is a pressure drop with the pre atomizing hardware. they are also called fine finish tips among other things. cat, graco, binks, kremlin have them. perhaps if you have at least a 10-1 parts are readily available either oem or replacement parts. let me know and i will see what we can do to help save you a few $

goodluck

herb j

Herb
My Grsco is the 15:1
The nozzle that came with it is a 412
But to be honest,even spraying solvent based (precat,CV)
It behaves kind of weird
I've heard from many people that owns one and they're all happy with it
I think something is not working right
The more I use it,the more I hate it

look on line and find how to test a pump, sometimes called the stall test. haven't tried y t but could be a good shot . essentially what u trying to do is stall the pump on the up stroke then the down stroke. also fwiw, 412 might be a little small. how does the pattern look if you spray it on a sheet of glass. but if ur pump passes the stall test it means the packings and such are in good shape. the other thing that makes pumps act weird is dirt in the lower ball check and or cage.

I have three CA techs and two Kremlin 15-1. We have been working on going to all waterbourne for a while now and find that we did need the Kremlin about 4000.00 , to spray the milesi 2k and 1k water well.

We still use the CA tech peak pumps for the solvents and CV's and one for clear topcoat waterborne sometimes and it seems to work well.

It has been really tough to get things the way I want them and I have spent well over 50k on spray both with filter doors, heated air makeup , dedicated drying room, downdraft sanding tables , air ionizer, etc... Many times I have gone back to subbing out finish just to get the results I want and every time I do I go to the shop that I am subbing to and they have less optimal equipment than I have and seem to have figured out how to get good clean finishes.

We're close now but it nearly killed my business with all the time, money , and frustration that I put into it trying to develop a consistent, above average finishing side of the business.

So hats off to anyone that gets it dialed in , by far the hardest part of my business that I have tried to develop.

Herb

"meaning at rest they are very thick, think about mayonaise or ketchup, BUT under movement like a pump, they lose or have what they call false viscosity."

I think that's the case with Renner too
I tried again using the Merkur es to spray their primer and just not really cutting it
I've ordered the tritech t4 and will keep the Merkur for occasionally solvent based jobs
I'm still using my CAT for their top coat
No problems there

Waterborne 2k or thick viscosity paints? using less than 30:1 pumps or airless are healing migraine with aspirin :)
Using airless like PC 495 or t4 are good also and many pro's use in the trade.
Me personally using Ca tech 14:1 for solvents and waterborne 1k's with Graco PC 495 and all the euro or non euro 2K poly's or catalyzed type thick paints Wagner Cobra .
P.S : I am C-6 Constructor not a painter.

View higher quality, full size image (4608 X 3456)

View higher quality, full size image (4608 X 3456)

fwiw, many, i repeat many of the newer wb have false bodies, or called thixo , i have no issues with a 10-1 and pre atomizing tip. and i hang some wet film on my project. i don't suffer any headaches from spraying my w bornes because as a small biz owner, i have employees who fulfill that obligation almost every day lol but use what you want, whatever you think is best for your situation, but i refrain from blanket statements, just giving people options before they drop more hard earned $$$$.

good luck
herb j